Mel C & Duracell Partner To Support UK Children’s Charity

Duracell brings even more smiles to children in the UK this Christmas with the launch of its new #poweringsmiles campaign

November 13, 2013

For over 50 years, Duracell has been powering smiles of children on Christmas morning by bringing toys and games to life. This Christmas, Duracell along with former Spice Girl and mother of one Mel C, are on a mission to help power even more smiles by partnering with Barnardo’s – the children’s charity supporting the UK’s most vulnerable children and their families.

As part of the campaign, launching on the 13th of November and running until Christmas Eve, Duracell will make a donation to Barnardos for every ‘Like’ or ‘Share’ of a DuracellUK Facebook post or any Tweet using #poweringsmiles, giving everyone the chance to get involved at the touch of a button; its that easy!

The donation to Barnardo’s will be made in toys and batteries and will be dispersed on Christmas Day to the 900 Barnardo’s services across the UK, whilst monies raised will help fund their therapeutic sensory rooms to create a safe and stimulating space for children with mental and physical disabilities.

To launch the campaign, Duracell is offering people the chance to experience a magical Christmas sleigh ride with the loveable Duracell Bunny at Bluewater Shopping Centre, Kent, from 13th – 16th November. Having ridden the sleigh, shoppers will then receive a video of their sleigh ride as a keep-sake which they can share on Facebook. There will also be a delicious hot chocolate stand on site weary shoppers a well-deserved treat while the Barnardo’s choir will be there getting everyone into the festive spirit with Christmas carols!

Former Spice Girl, Melanie C, the Duracell Powering Smiles campaign ambassador says:“I am really proud to be involved in this meaningful campaign; Christmas means so much to me and my family and any parent will agree there is nothing better than seeing the smiles of their children on Christmas morning. It’s awful to think that for lots of children throughout the UK, Christmas is a very different day, without the same special magic so many families are lucky enough to enjoy. I’m really pleased that through the Duracell Powering Smiles campaign we can all get involved in helping make Christmas special for more children.”

Barnardo’s Head of Fundraising, Allan McLaren says;“The support of Duracell this Christmas will go a long way in helping transform the lives of many of the vulnerable children we support. Accessing the world around them can be a confusing struggle to children with complex needs. The sensory rooms, which the donations are funding, will act as a lifeline to children with multi-sensory impairments, as they develop their cognitive and physical abilities. The sensory rooms deliver stimuli to various senses, which is both empowering and enabling for these children and their families.

“In addition, the Duracell donation of toys and batteries will mean children who may otherwise not receive a Christmas present will get to open presents on Christmas morning, helping them to have the proper festive experience that every child deserves.”

As the worldwide market leader in the battery category, Duracell has been the power behind your children’s favourite toys and games; powering smiles at Christmas for over half a century. As the longest lasting battery on the market and the most trusted battery brand by parents in Europe, Duracell is responsible for keeping the fun going long after Christmas morning.

Notes to Editors

About Duracell

Duracell started in humble beginnings in the early 1920s but has since gone on to become the bestselling battery brand in the world. Duracell’s aim has always been to provide a variety of personal power options for the very best value which are loved by consumers across the world.

Duracell is committed to developing a broad range of solutions to keep people powered up longer, not just through batteries but a range of on the go devices and charging capabilities to suit any situation. As technology enables us to do more than ever before, Duracell enables people to go beyond the power limits of their devices to ensure we stay connected and never miss a moment.

About the sensory rooms at Barnardo’s

These Barnardo’s sensory rooms will be a lifeline to children with multi-sensory impairments, as they help to develop sensory and motor neurone skills while enhancing development. The rooms incorporate sound, light, and a range of specialised equipment designed to create an environment that is used for relaxation and calming. The sensory rooms deliver stimuli to various senses, using lighting effects, colour, sounds, music and scents to help aid development.

About Barnardo’s

Barnardo’s works with more than 200,000 children, young people and their families each year. Barnardo’s runs more than 900 services across the UK.

Their vision is to realise Thomas Barnardo’s dream of a world where no child is turned away from the help that they need.
They work to transform the lives of the UK’s most vulnerable children and every year help thousands of families to build a better future

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